Meal Ideas Needed

Updated on
January 29, 2008

A.D.
asks from
Brighton, IA
on June 27, 2007

12
answers

I have recently Lost my job. Not fault of my own, the plant where I was work shut down and sold itself. I am now Home everyday, and I need ideas about meals at breakfast, lunch, supper and even snacks. Gosh I feel like a reborn again mom. I was working 12 hr days so it didnt leave me much time for my little ones and it was hard on me. SO if you have ideas about meals let me know.

I am on a fixed budget for meals to by the way. There are 4 people 2 being young

More Answers

J.O.

I have a recipe ALL of my kids like and it is super simple, and the adults seem to enjoy it to.

Adjust recipe to your family size but a good rule of thumb is one pakage per person.

Ramen Noodles ( remove seasoning package and put aside for Later)
any frozen veggie ( broccoli is really good or the mixed Veg's
Pre-cooked or defrosted)
And meat of choise (pre-cooked, hamburger, or steak slices
and those rotisserie (SP?) chickens work well)

Cook noodels according to package do not over cook it only takes a few minutes. Place noodles in large fry pan (non sticks best) add a little butter or oil just to coat the noodles then add seasoning packages mix well, add your meat and veggies and serve.

You can do this recipe many different ways just depending on your veggies and meats, we serve with soy sauce sometimes for just a little added flavor. I swear by this because most little ones love noodles of any sort. Hope this helped www.kraft.com is also a really good place for recipes for the wgole family.

Report This

Comments(optional)

B.B.

answers from
Sioux City
on
June 28, 2007

I run a home daycare so I have to have lots of ideas for meal time. I'm on the food program so I have to give balanced meals everytime.
For breakfast we usually do waffles, pancakes, french toast with a fruit and then milk. Or we do cereal with milk and then juice to drink or we have whole wheat toast with butter/peanut butter/or jelly fruit and milk.
For snacks we have crackers, cheese, yougurt, fruits or veggies, pizza rolls, soft pretzels, teddy grahams, chips and salsa, muffins, dry cereal, lunch meat sandwiches, my kids favorite snack is super simple. Just take a flour tortilla and sprinkle some shredded cheese on it and heat in the microwave for about 15 seconds roll up and you have a cheese burrito. Every single one of my kids love them from the youngest to the oldest and most of the ask for seconds.
For lunches, which could also be used for dinners, we have chicken nuggests, fish sticks, lunch meat sandwiches, spaghetti, ravioli, tacos, chicken fettucinni, chef salads, soups, tuna noodles, tuna with crackers, burritos, pizza, chili, salisbury steak, sloppy joes, taverns, scrambled eggs, sausages, etc. A no fail lunch/dinner for all my kids is my homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni it's ten times better than Hamburger Healper and easy to make.
You need:
1 lb of hamburger
1 regular size can of Campbells Tomato Soup or any brand really
1 box of Macaroni and Cheese
Brown the hamburger while you boil the noodles. Once the noodles are cooked drain and put back in the pan, and the hamburger and mix in the soup then add the cheese let heat for a few minutes and then eat. The kids love it and it's a favorite of mine too.
These things are are main dishes then I always have a fruit and vegetable with every meal a grain product like bread or noodles and then milk.
I hope this helps you. You could also try looking up meals for kids online I get a lot of tips when it seems like we're eating the same old same old everyday!

Report This

Comments(optional)

A.B.

answers from
Fargo
on
June 28, 2007

My children love graham crackers-and they're cheap, but a good snack. Also, you would probably qualify for WIC and/or food stamps...I'd check into that. WIC would help out with milk, cheese, cereal, juice, and eggs for your 17 month old for sure. WIC covers children up to 5 years old, so I don't know if your oldest would be covered or not, you'd have to ask them. Cheese & fruit are also good snacks...my kids love the canned fruit, since fresh is so expensive most of the time. For meals, we eat mac & cheese, frozen pizzas, spaghetti, hamburger helper, hot dogs, homemade quesadillas, chicken nuggets, PB & J, etc. One thing that's helped me is planning out the meals for the next 2 weeks and buying groceries for those meals. Hope this helps!

Report This

Comments(optional)

M.W.

answers from
Boise
on
January 29, 2008

I recommend the book "The Sneaky Chef" because it has kid meals and snacks that you can sneak veggies into. My kids love guessing what secret thing I have hidden in whatever we're eating. (Of course, I don't tell them until after they try it!) Also, congrats on being a SAHM! You will never regret it and neither will your kids. It's worth all the scrimping and saving and going without. Happy eating!

Report This

Comments(optional)

D.V.

answers from
Des Moines
on
June 28, 2007

Check out kraftfoods.com. You can sign up for emails and a recipe magazine they send out that have a lot of quick and easy ideas. In most cases, you can use different brands if you want, just use the basic recipes and ideas.

Report This

Comments(optional)

M.G.

answers from
Des Moines
on
June 28, 2007

I am actually not responding to the meal ideas. I am writing in response to your comment about losing your job. I am successfully working at work from home business. It's a wonderful company and I am actually making money doing it. It's not a get rich quick scheme, it's a legitimate business that you work on your time. It is certainly something that you can feel proud of and love. If you are interested in the least bit, please email me at ____@____.com.